I didn't know how long I screamed before Haytham silenced me, by placing a hand over my mouth. I knew that it couldn't have been for more than a few seconds.

"Oh, I wish you hadn't done that. You see now, you have gone and drawn attention to us. I'm afraid my dear, that will change things drastically." Haytham said.

I attempted to struggle once more, but to no avail. Then all of the sudden I felt a sharp pain, in my right side, just below my belly button. Haytham let me down and laid me on the floor as I fell.

"Believe me mademoiselle, I never wanted to hurt you. But you left me no choice in the matter." Haytham explained as he managed to secure the key that lay hidden beneath the collar of my dress. It was then that everything went black.

That had been my first real encounter with the Templar Grandmaster known as Haytham Kenway. He had disguised himself as a patron for the arts when he figured out who I was. With that power, he managed to infiltrate, and nearly kill me in the process. After he had stabbed me, I didn't recall much of what happened until I regained consciousness.

I awoke to voices, one remaining clear, Erik's. I could make out bits and pieces of what he was saying.

"…left unprotected! She … died!"

"Erik, I … you are upset. But we need to figure … what happened. …wait for now, until Christine wakes up."

I moved slightly to attempt to get Erik's attention. I managed to touch his arm lightly. Erik turned around, seeing me awake, he quickly knelt by my side.

"Christine! Thank God." Erik said, clearly relieved. I couldn't recall the last time, or any time that I had seen him like this. All I knew was that he was more disheveled than normal.

"What happened?" I asked, a slight crack in my voice.

Madam Giry turned to get me a glass of water, while Erik looked at me.

"You nearly died, that is what happened. Christine, what do you recall?" Erik asked, attempting to be gentle.

I gladly accepted the glass of water from Madam Giry and tried to rack my brain for what had happened. I remembered getting back to my dressing room, getting ready for the post-production party. Then as if by lightning, I started to recall everything that had happened. The patron, my father's killer, and my attempt to fight off … Haytham Kenway.

"The patron. He is not who we all think he is. He is a…Templar!" I said frantically.

I then felt my neck and when I found that it held nothing, I started to panic.

"Where is it!?" I asked.

Erik, who was still by my side, tried to calm me down.

"Christine, try and take a breath for a moment, what are you looking for?" Madam Giry spoke up.

I looked to Erik with wide eyes, and potential unshed tears. Erik sensing my distress, was quick to fold his arms around me and hold me close as I allowed for myself to calm down. I finally managed to get out what I was trying to say.

"Erik, he—, he took the key."

Erik went still. Aside from Madam Giry knowing of my double life as an Assassin, Erik was the only one who knew about the precursor temple key, the one that supposedly could open one of the precursor temples that may hold the apple of Eden. I of course knew that this could only mean trouble. Of course, there was the other blaring fact that I managed to figure out as well.

"He—, he killed my father." I said, and just like that I couldn't hold on anymore and for the first time since I had come to Paris, I let myself cry.

I didn't know for how long I cried, but it must have been long enough, that any energy I had was used, and I had fallen asleep. I had awoken hours later, only to find myself, tucked into a bed, that was not my own, and I knew that it was also not in the lair. I sat up, trying to gauge my surroundings. However, I didn't have to think long, before the door to what I assumed was the bedroom, opened, and in walked Madam Giry. Turning, she met my eyes, and I could tell, that something had happened, in the time that I had been asleep.

"Madam Giry? Where is Erik? Where am I?!" I asked suddenly, feeling frantic.

Madam Giry was quick to come to my side and placed a hand on my shoulder trying to calm me down.

"Hush Christine, you are safe. Erik and I brought you here back to my flat. After you had passed out again, Erik thought it would be best if you be relocated for the time being, since the Opera House was breeched." Madam Giry explained in a softer tone, than what I have heard her use.

My mind was still scattered with the events that had happened in the last few hours. Wait, had it been hours? Or had it been days? My mind was still numb with everything, and I couldn't wrap my head around it. How had I been so weak? Erik had been training me for so long, how could I have not spotted the signs sooner? Perhaps then, none of this would have happened. Yet, there was still a nagging fear that had settled in my stomach. Where was Erik? Surely, he wouldn't have gone after Haytham Kenway by himself? He knew what it meant for me to find my father's killer, as that had been the only motivation that had kept me going during the years of my training. And yet, when the time had come for me to even have a chance against Haytham Kenway, I was caught completely unaware, I was unprepared, because I was playing the opposite role, of the diva, for the Opera Populaire. Haytham had hit right where I lived and had managed to spook everyone that I cared about. Enough so, that it may have driven Erik out of hiding.

That last thought made my breath hitch, drive Erik out of hiding. What if Haytham had discovered that Erik was my mentor, and had gone about an attempt to lure him out, but getting to me? What if that had been part of his master plan? Erik had always told me that he had enemies out there. Many who would much like to see him dead, and if Haytham, knew that that he was in fact still alive, then what would he do with that information? Would he sell it to the highest bidder? Or would he stash it away and wait until the right time came along to hand Erik over to whatever enemy came knocking?

I had to know where Erik was, and hope that he hadn't decided to leave me behind.

"Madam Giry, where is Erik?"

I looked at her, and she tensed. I caught a glimpse of her eyes, and instead of the fierce steely gaze that usually occupied her face, there was sadness within them. Just by reading her eyes, I knew the answer to my question already. Instead of having her speak what I already knew, I did it myself.

"He left and went after Kenway, alone. Didn't he." I said, in a matter-of-fact tone.

Madam Giry cleared her throat and replied.

"I am afraid so. He—, he didn't want you to get hurt any more than you already have. He knows that you would want to kill Kenway yourself, but since you hadn't been in the actual field as of yet, at least according to him, he didn't want to take the chance that you could be killed."

I just sat there, trying to understand Erik's reasoning for leaving me behind, but I still felt as though my heart had been shattered into a million pieces, and there was no way to fix and repair it.

"However, he did send someone over that he said, would be perhaps of great help to you." Madam Giry said after I had gone quiet. I looked up at Madam Giry meeting her gaze and managed a small nod. It seemed that that had been enough to encourage her to bring in this new acquaintance. I watched as Madam Giry left through the door that she had come in. After a few moments, it opened again. Madam Giry, came back in, and stood by my side, as was proper when accepting an invitation to anyone's request to be seen in a lady's chamber.

Following Madam Giry was an average sized man, about the same height, if not perhaps a foot shorter, than Erik. He had honeyed brown skin, that gave off the look as though he had come straight from out East, potentially Persia. I studied his face and found him to be very at ease considering the situation that we were all here to witness.

"Hello Christine, my name is Nadir Khan." The man said.

I continued to sit there, not making a move, not even bothering to extend my hand for it be shook. Part of me was still reeling from the fact that Erik had all but abandoned me, and the other part of me was attempting to wrap my mind around the fact that Erik had sent the one man, who he had told me, had once helped him long ago, when he was in Persia. I could have sworn that Erik had said that the man was still in prison for treason, after helping Erik escape, however, it would seem that Erik failed to mention that, said person was now clearly out, of prison, and here in France. I tried to rack my brain for something to say, but I came up blank. All I could think about was Erik, and where he had gone, and what I could do to go after him. If there was one thing that Erik was not going to do, it was going to have the chance to kill Kenway before I did. He knew that I would want that honor, and Lord knows that I deserve it, after all he put me through.

As if the silence had gone on long enough, I finally found the words to speak.

"Monsieur Khan, it is a sincere honor to meet you, I wish it had been under better circumstances. You will have to forgive me, I am not feeling quite myself, and I may come off a bit … frazzled. It would seem that Erik was one step ahead of me, as per usual." I replied, attempting to be nice.

Nadir Khan smiled and in a grand gesture, waved his hand to indicate that no offense was taken.

"Of course, Mademoiselle Daae, I can understand that at this very moment, you are likely not yourself. I can also understand that you are probably not the … happiest with Erik's actions at this point either. If I may be so bold Mademoiselle, Erik tends to do these things."

I straightened up a little at that remark, wanting to know exactly what he meant.

"And pray-tell, what things are those Monsieur?"

"He takes on other people's challenges and, in blindness, believes he is helping them, especially if he cares for that person—which is far and few. Nonetheless, he tends to attempt to take matters into his own hands without thinking about things rationally. I am sure that you have seen this at least a few times since you have known him." Nadir replied.

I couldn't help but think of two different times in which I had seen that behavior. It was true, Erik tended to be a little obtuse when it came to thinking about things rationally, especially when it came to me in particular. However, I knew he meant well. I just wished he would have waited for me to wake up, so that we could have talked this out, like civilized individuals, rather than run off to take care of it himself. I knew that I would have to go after him, and I would be damned if anyone stopped me. Taking a breath, I attempted to move out of the bed. I knew that he already had a head start on me, but I figured that if I could gather enough intel on where he was headed, I could catch up to him. However, the moment I started to move, two pairs of hands attempted to stop me.

"Christine, what are doing!?" Madam Giry replied, frantically.

"What does it look like I am doing. I am going after Erik. I can't let him fight that devil of a man alone. Besides, you know just as well, that it is my right that I kill him." I said briskly. I made the move to stand, however, as soon as I was on my feet, I started to sway. I would have landed on the floor if it hadn't been for both Madam Giry and Nadir hadn't caught me.

"Christine, believe me, I know what it is like to want to kill someone so badly, especially after they have hurt you so deeply. But you are in no condition to move, let alone travel. I know that Erik didn't do right by you, by just leaving. However, I believe that if given time, you can heal up, and then perhaps, once you have done that, we can start to gather intel, and then start planning to go after Erik." Nadir explained, attempting to convince me to see reason.

"Monsieur Khan, I mean no disrespect, but I don't know you. You and Erik may know each other, and that is fine. But I am not going to sit around here and do nothing, not while Kenway is out there. For all I know, he could know about Erik, and could be setting a trap for him as we speak. I will not allow that man to take away another person that I care about, because believe me, I don't think I would survive if he did." I explained, with calm fury, lacing my words.

"Mademoiselle, I above all, know what it is like to want to get your revenge. But you must remember all that Erik has taught you in these last several years. You know that the brotherhood would frown upon killing anyone in an act of revenge. I know that right now, you have been stripped bare and left vulnerable, because the man that you had been looking for, found you first, and caught you off guard. He found you when you were at your weakest and struck, and because of that, you have probably, no doubt lost some confidence in yourself. However, if there is one thing that I can tell you for sure, Erik would not have gone after Kenway by himself, if he didn't believe that he couldn't handle him, I also believe that Erik won't be so quick to kill him, as much as torture him enough, to then bring him back to face proper justice. Trust in Erik Christine, because sometimes that is all you can do." Nadir said calmly.

I sighed. I knew that what Nadir was saying made sense. I could barely walk, let alone move fluidly enough to fight. I would need to heal up first. However, the first chance that I would get, after getting back into perfect health, I would start assembling a crew, purchase a ship, and start my own journey.

"Fine, I will allow myself to heal, but the moment that I am up and moving again, I will be leaving, and I will be going after him. I don't care what any of you think." I said firmly.

Both Nadir and Madam Giry nodded, knowing that it would be the best compromise that they would get from me.